The main thing about the country
Japan is a large group of islands to the east of Russia, further than Vladivostok and south of Sakhalin. It is a high-tech country with the highest life expectancy in the world, with a special culture and traditions. The direction of excursion tourism is developed here.
Why go to Japan
See modern cities, beautiful temples, get to the birthplace of anime and many traditions, look at strange purchases in stores and visit the most beautiful mountains. The main difference between Japan and other countries is the organic fusion of high-tech solutions, ancient architecture and traditions of behavior.
The main thing about the country
The official language is Japanese, but almost all residents speak English fluently.
Time zone UTC +9.
The main religions are Buddhism and Shintoism, and, as a rule, the Japanese consider themselves to belong to both. The Japanese do not impose their worldview on anyone, but ask to respect their values. They are friendly to tourists and are ready to help those who find themselves in a difficult situation.
Customs
In addition to standard restrictions, Japanese customs do not allow:
- counterfeit banknotes, securities and goods;
- printed materials of immoral content or undermining public order;
- pirated video or text materials and other items created in violation of copyright.
When to go to Japan
The tourist season in Japan is year-round, but the best time is considered to be from March to May. It is neither hot nor cold, the weather usually does not throw up any unpleasant surprises, and the gardens are in bloom. In March, there is a much higher chance of seeing the sakura blossom. It does not occur simultaneously throughout Japan, but moves with a small step from south to north. Admiring the cherry blossoms is called hanami, it is an important Japanese tradition.
From the end of May to September the weather cannot be called comfortable: first comes the rainy season, then the heat (on average +27 degrees, which is hard to bear against the background of high humidity), and in August-early September comes the typhoon season.
In autumn, the weather becomes comfortable again and the second peak of the tourist season begins. At this time, many festivals, exhibitions and other events take place that may be of interest to tourists. By the way, the Japanese love to watch falling leaves no less than blooming sakura.
Winter Japan is wonderful because it allows you to move from the winter of Hokkaido to the summer in the south of the country in a couple of hours. Therefore, it is quite possible to combine skiing and diving in one vacation.
Currency
It is best to enter Japan with yen (amounts up to 1 million yen are not declared). You can bring dollars or euros, they are exchanged here at a favorable rate, unlike the ruble. The most profitable way to exchange money is in banks (open until 15:00, on Saturday until 12:00, and closed on Sunday), but you have to fill out documents and answer questions for a long time. It is easier (although sometimes less profitable) to exchange money right at the airport. You can also exchange money in hotels, but the amount is limited to $300 per day per person.
Prices
Japan is a rather expensive country. A room in a three-star hotel will cost 3-5 thousand rubles* per night for two (almost the same for one). Lunch will cost an average of 3,000 yen. The cost of public transport is comparable to Western European countries, but intercity train tickets are very expensive. You will have to spend up to 15 thousand yen per week on food, not counting drinks.
* price is indicated for January 2022
How to get there
Russians can fly to Tokyo without transfers from Moscow or Khabarovsk. Flights depart daily. From Vladivostok, you can get to the ports of Sakaiminato (Totori Prefecture) and Otari by sea. In the warm season, a ferry runs once a week between the ports of Korsakov (Sakhalin) and Wakkanai (Hokkaido Island).
Beaches
Japan is not associated with beach holidays, but it is worth visiting the local beaches. For Russian tourists, this is a bit unusual, but the southern Japanese islands are located in the subtropics. The best beaches are located in Okinawa. On Ishigaki Island, there are three beaches at once: Fusaki, Sukuji and Yonehara. In summer, the bays protect against jellyfish. There is a rental of diving equipment. If you dive in Sukuji in the summer, you will definitely meet manta rays – huge rays. The beaches of Taketomi and Iriomote Islands attract not only with the warm sea and excellent views, but also with very unusual sand: there are grains of sand in the shape of stars.
Resorts of Japan
Japan has many geothermal springs (onsens), which are the basis of balneology. Sometimes they are very unusual. At Ibusuki, visitors are offered to lie in sand heated to 55-60 degrees, and then plunge into a regular hot bath.
Kaika treats neurological diseases, rheumatism, dermatological diseases and restores women’s health. Scientists have recently proven the effectiveness of local procedures in cosmetology.
In Nikko it is easy to combine health improvement with sightseeing tourism: the resort is located in a place of pilgrimage known since the Middle Ages.
Hakone offers relaxation and wellness with a view of Fuji. This resort is located near Tokyo. Hot baths are available not only in resorts, but also in hotels and even in the open air.
Attractions
There are many attractions in Japan. It is not without reason that the main direction of tourism here is excursions.
One of the oldest monuments in the country is the White Heron Castle in Himeji. Its graceful forms largely determined the uniqueness of Japanese architecture. Reminiscent of it, but made in dark tones, is the Raven Castle – Matsumoto, located just 3 hours drive from Tokyo.
Modern Hiroshima is amazing. The city remembers the atomic bombing of 1945 well. The building of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which was practically at the epicenter of the explosion, has been preserved here, but it survived. There are memorials dedicated to the victims of the bombing. But there are also many monuments associated with the ancient history of Hiroshima. For example, the Fudoim and Mitaka temples, founded in the first millennium AD. One of the largest zoos in Japan is also located here.
In Kyoto, the Ryukoku Museum is worth a visit. The ultra-modern building uses modern technology to tell the story of the history and development of Buddhism.
Of course, it’s definitely worth taking a stroll around Tokyo’s Garbage Island (a wealthy neighborhood built on an island from the ashes of trash incineration) and Osaka’s shopping district.
Entertainment
The diversity of natural and climatic zones makes literally everything possible in Japan. The abundance of thermal springs has made spa treatments popular. The mountain slopes are great for skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports. The beaches of the southern islands offer excellent diving.
Japanese cuisine
In Japan, you can try everything that cafes and restaurants offer. In establishments with above-average prices, you will be pleased with the exquisite presentation of dishes – this is also an important part of Japanese cuisine.
The basis of Japanese cuisine is, of course, seafood. But it is not limited to sushi and sashimi. They love meat here, although they do not eat it as often as in Europe.
Sukiyaki is meat stewed with vegetables, mushrooms and tofu. The taste of the dish depends on the region: in some prefectures the taste is softened, while in others, on the contrary, it is made more intense.
Tori Karaage is chicken fried in a starch coating and served with various sauces.
Gyudon is similar to Thai cuisine. It is spicy beef with a little rice as a side dish.
Marbled beef is the pride of the Japanese. This is the meat of Tojima cows. It is permeated with fat veins, and therefore turns out very tender. The chef often prepares the dish right in front of the customers, in the dining room.
Travelers should try ekiben, boxes of prepared food sold at train stations, if only to see how tasty and healthy fast food can be.
Souvenirs
With Japan all the rage, you can buy a traditional Japanese cat, maneki-neko, fan or katana at any supermarket or souvenir shop. But Japan has many unique things.
The faceless Sarubobo dolls are made in Takayama. The dolls were originally intended to help women in labor, but are now seen as a talisman against all evil.
Daruma dolls are believed to have magical properties. They are sold almost completely painted, but the eyes are left white. The owner of the doll makes a wish and paints one eye. When the wish comes true, the Daruma gets a second eye. And if the doll fails, it is burned in a fire.
It is also worth looking for souvenirs among Japanese porcelain products. There are many of them here, for every taste and budget. There are dishes made using old technologies, and there are those made using ultra-modern ones.
For anime fans, Tokyo has the Akihabara (Akiba) district, a place with an incredible number of comic book stores, figurines, electronics, retro games, and much more. There are separate tours of Akiba.
Transport
From Narita Airport you can get to Tokyo by bus. It will take at least 1.5 hours. How much longer depends on traffic jams, which can be quite significant. It is more reliable (although more expensive) to get there by train. It will take you to Tokyo Central Station in an hour.
The railway network is well developed, you can get to any major city by train. High-speed trains are expensive, but they can be considered a tourist attraction if you are planning one trip. Although it is more profitable to order a JR Pass transport card from Russia (this is a product only for tourists, and it will no longer be possible to buy it from Japan). The voucher will need to be activated at the airport (be prepared, there may be a queue), and then you can travel to Tokyo by train. The JR Pass card is only valid on roads and routes owned by JR. Minus: you will have to pay extra for some road sections. Plus: the card is valid on some ferries and even regular city buses. The card is very profitable if you plan to go to Osaka on the Shinkansen (high-speed train).
All Japanese cities have established bus service, and some have trams. Subway fares depend on the distance of the trip. If you plan to travel a lot on public transport, including commuter trains, it makes sense to buy a tourist card Welcome Suica. It is sold at the airport and at large subway stations. The same card can be used to pay for travel in different cities, but not for intercity trips.
Taxi prices are among the highest in the world, but it is easy to order a car. It is better to use Uber: they have the lowest price for a car.
Safety
Crime is so low that thefts make the news. You can safely leave your wallet on a table in a shopping mall and return for it an hour later.
Medicine
Both outpatient and inpatient medical care can be obtained at any time of the day in Japan, but outside of working hours, only on-call clinics or hospitals will help. However, only a limited list of drugs can be purchased without a prescription.
Medical tourism is actively developing in Japan. The country specializes in high-tech medical care and transplantology. If the treatment requires more than 90 days or periodic trips to the home country, a medical visa is issued.
Traditions of Japan
The Japanese are polite and tolerant people. They are sure that it is difficult for foreigners to fit into the Japanese way of life, and therefore easily forgive violations of etiquette. But do not approve of extremism and violence in their presence: they will not understand.
The Japanese expect tourists to respect Japanese customs and keep the streets clean.
Taking photos of people on the street is extremely disrespectful. Entering a house with shoes on is also disrespectful (this may be important for some restaurants).
Internet
Local SIM cards are rented right at the airport. They are valid for several weeks. There are three major operators: NTT DoCoMo, KDDI and SоftBank. Their conditions are similar.
If your phone doesn’t support local communications, you can get by with free Wi-Fi. It’s easy to connect to, and it allows you to call via messengers. You can also rent devices that are guaranteed to work.
Useful facts
- Tipping is not done in Japan: service is already included in the bill. Leaving a tip is an insult to the Japanese.
- If you decide to cook yourself and choose fish and seafood, go to the market for them. It’s cheaper and more interesting.
- Payment for travel on a city bus is made upon entering, and for travel on a tram – upon exiting.